Ontario Women’s Justice Network

Post Archive

In March, 2015, Ontario Premiere Kathleen Wynne released a new Action Plan to Stop Sexual Violence and Harassment. Through this Plan, the government aims to establish an “Ontario where everyone lives in safety and is free from the threat, fear or experience of sexual violence and harassment.”

This article provides a number of resources that may be able to help if you have to leave your job because of workplace violence and/or harassment or if you are fired because of harassment or violence.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) is a law that protects workers against health and safety hazards at work. Starting June 15, 2010, the law changed to include violence and harassment as potential hazards within the workplace. The OHSA is limited, but it is another legal option for dealing with workplace violence and harassment.

Anyone can be sexually assaulted. Anyone can commit sexual assault – it does not matter what gender you are or whether or not you were in a relationship. This articles discusses what sexual assault and consent mean under Canadian law.

Peace Bonds can help protect you against anybody who makes you feel threatened. A Peace Bond is a protection order made in the criminal court system by a judge, or justice of the peace. Protection Orders are decisions by a judge that put restrictions on someone’s behaviour.

Bail Conditions or ‘Terms of Release’ are restrictions placed on a person’s behaviour when they are allowed to leave police custody or jail and go back into the community. This means that if the court decides to release the person into the community, they must follow strict rules or risk going back to jail.

If you are afraid that your partner or former partner will hurt you or your children, you can ask a Family Court for a Restraining Order. A Restraining Order is one type of Protection Order. Protection Orders are decisions by a judge that put restrictions on someone’s behaviour.

If you are afraid of another person, you can try to get a Protection Order (also called a No Contact Order) to protect yourself. An Order is a decision by a judge that puts restrictions on someone’s behaviour. This article will discuss the different types of protection orders.

Women working in a rural or remote setting are most likely isolated from other workers and live in the same place or compound where they work. This article provides information about workplace rights and what they can do if they experience workplace violence and/or harassment.

If you have been the subject of workplace violence or harassment, you might consider bringing a civil lawsuit or criminal charges. Not all abusive, unfair or cruel actions are against the law. To pursue someone in the court system, you must have suffered a type of harm that is recognized by the law.

Workplace violence and harassment can include many different kinds of behaviours, from bullying to sexual harassment or sexual assault. Read more below to better understand what workplace violence and harassment is and what you can do if it happens to you.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB) provides financial compensation to survivors of violent crime, and family members of people who have died because of violent crime that happened in Ontario. It is an administrative body funded by the Ontario government.

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Information on OWJN is not legal advice

OWJN contains general legal information only. OWJN does not give legal advice. If you need legal advice, you should contact a lawyer, who can help you make decisions about your legal rights. You may be eligible for legal advice from a community Legal Aid clinic.